Veterans group seeks Congress aid on 'out of control' military suicide rate

11:11 PM,
Jan. 30, 2014

Written by

Brian Tumulty
| Washington Bureau

Suicide prevention is the No. 1 legislative priority this year for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said Paul Rieckhoff, the group's founder and CEO.

His organization also supports the effort by Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to have military prosecutors, rather than commanders, make decisions on whether to prosecute sexual assault cases in the armed forces.

Rieckhoff, 39, a native of Peekskill, served in Iraq as an Army first lieutenant in 2003-2004. He also served at ground zero after the 2001 terrorist attacks as a first responder for the Army National ...